Afghans use culture guides to cut 'insider' attacks

September 06, 2012|Reuters

By Amie Ferris-Rotman

KABUL, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Afghan Defence Ministry officials,trying to stop the alarming increase in 'insider' attacks, havegiven their troops tips on foreign culture, telling them not tobe offended by a hearty pat on the back or an American soldierasking after your wife's health.

A pamphlet with guidance on handling cultural differencesbetween Afghans and their foreign partners has been producedamid great concern among Afghan and NATO leaders about attacksby Afghan soldiers and policemen on the foreign troops trainingthem. The attacks have killed 45 NATO-led troops this year.

NATO attributes only about a quarter of the attacks, calledgreen on blue, to the Taliban, saying the rest are caused bypersonal grievances and misunderstandings. Last year, there were35 deaths in such attacks.

"Even minor cultural differences can createmisunderstandings and rows... If you or your coalition partnergets angry, stay away from each other until the situationbecomes normal," reads the weighty pamphlet.

The document highlights the enormous cultural divide stillseparating Afghans from their allies, 11 years into theincreasingly unpopular and costly war.

Defence Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi showed it toreporters on Thursday, saying it was intended for the190,000-strong Afghan national army.

"Coalition troops may ask about the women in your family. Donot take offence, they just want friendly relations with you. Inreturn, teach them that Afghans do not discuss their families'women with others," the pamphlet instructs, referring toAfghanistan's ultra-conservative society.

Putting one's boots on a desk, blowing one's nose, winking,taking photos, swearing and raising the middle finger are alsogiven as examples of Western culture which might offend Afghans.

In a deeply religious Muslim country where many pray severaltimes a day, the pamphlet urges Afghan troops not to be upsetwhen NATO troops pass in front of them during prayer, considereddisrespectful in Islam.

Both the army and the 150,000-strong national police forceare trained by NATO and its partners.

"We are aware it is a high stress environment with a cultureof honour and shame," Bradshaw told reporters, adding thatAfghan soldiers who shot their allies were often killed, sothere was no opportunity to question them.

Hundreds of Afghan soldiers have been detained or sacked forhaving links to insurgents, and NATO measures include improvingits vetting procedure and counter-intelligence.

Field commanders have been given discretion to post more"guardian angel" sentries, who oversee foreign soldiers incrowded areas such as gyms and food halls, to respond to anyrogue shootings, officials say.

In an interview with Reuters this week, NATO chief AndersFogh Rasmussen dismissed any suggestion that the attacks wouldlead to more members of the NATO-led force pulling out from thewar earlier than planned.